Overview

First introduced in early 2020, the 4th generation 12.9-inch Apple iPad Pro sits in an interesting transitional spot in Apple's tablet history. Powered by the A12Z Bionic chip—an eight-core graphics evolution of the A12X—this model refined the groundbreaking redesign from 2018 by adding a secondary ultrawide rear camera, a dedicated LiDAR scanner, and base storage bumped to 128GB.

Evaluating this tablet today means looking at how well a pre-M-series iPad Pro withstands modern iPadOS updates and physical wear. While it misses out on some of the advanced external display modes reserved for Apple Silicon chips, the combination of a 120Hz Liquid Retina display, robust multi-speaker audio, and second-generation Apple Pencil support keeps it highly functional for digital sketching, note-taking, and daily media tasks.

Design and build

The 4th Gen 12.9-inch iPad Pro utilizes Apple's flat-sided, industrial aluminum enclosure. It strikes a remarkably thin profile at just 5.9mm, which feels modern in hand but comes with structural tradeoffs. Because of the large surface area and minimal internal cross-bracing, the aluminum housing can succumb to slight warping if repeatedly stored in packed bags without a rigid protective case.

The front panel is dominated by a fully laminated Liquid Retina display. By fusing the cover glass, touch digitizer, and LCD panel into one ultra-thin layer, Apple achieved minimal parallax when drawing with the Apple Pencil. However, this design means any deep crack or severe touch malfunction requires swapping the entire bonded screen assembly rather than just a top glass layer.

Everyday performance

Daily operation on the A12Z Bionic remains surprisingly fluid. The extra GPU core unlocked in the A12Z gives it plenty of headroom for raster illustration in Procreate, light 4K timeline edits in LumaFusion, and responsive Split View multitasking. Scrolling through image-heavy web pages and document feeds benefits tremendously from the 120Hz ProMotion engine, which dynamic adjusts refresh rates to keep UI navigation feeling instant.

Where the 4th Gen shows its age is in high-end external screen workflows. While it handles basic mirrored display output over USB-C, it lacks the expanded Stage Manager desktop mechanics that require M1 hardware or newer. For users who primarily keep their work on the 12.9-inch internal screen, this limitation is rarely a dealbreaker.

Battery, durability, and longevity

Power delivery relies on a large dual-cell lithium-polymer battery setup mounted inside the chassis. Over years of operation, natural chemical degradation will cause decreased runtime, thermal throttling under heavy rendering loads, or sudden percentage drops near lower charge states. Reaching high charge cycle counts is standard for a device of this age, making battery wear one of the most common maintenance triggers.

In terms of general durability, the perimeter adhesive holding the screen to the aluminum chassis creates a tight seal against dust, but offers no formal water resistance rating. Drop impacts near the corners often translate directly into glass fractures because the display extends so close to the metal border.

Common issues owners hit

Long-term owners and second-hand buyers frequently report a few distinct failure modes on this platform:

• USB-C Port Wear: Frequent cable plugging and stress on the charging cable can loosen internal pins or wear down the port frame, leading to intermittent power connections or failure to detect external drives.
• Screen Fractures and Touch Dead-Zones: Due to the thin frame and edge-to-edge glass, flex stress or drops can cause webbed cracking across the glass, often disabling touch response along the affected region.
• Battery Aging: Elevated internal resistance from aged cells causes premature power-downs when running graphic-intensive apps.
• Delicate Ambient Cables: DIY repairs or screen removals frequently risk damaging the delicate ambient light and proximity sensor flex cables adhered tightly near the top bezel.

If you are experiencing unexpected shutdowns or charging dropouts on your device, checking the specific hardware profiles on the iPad Pro 12.9 4th Gen hub or reviewing our broader hardware problems resource can help isolate whether the fault stems from software configuration or worn physical components.

Who it's for

The 12.9-inch iPad Pro 4th Gen is ideal for illustrators, students, and general power users who want a massive, color-accurate 120Hz workspace without paying the premium for newer M-series models. It serves exceptionally well as a standalone digital notebook, desktop companion, or portable media hub.

It is less suited for heavy video editors looking to drive high-resolution secondary monitors daily, or for users working in rough environments where a thin, unreinforced tablet frame is at constant risk of drops and bending.

Bottom line

The iPad Pro 12.9 4th Gen remains a capable tablet that balances top-tier display quality with strong mid-range computational power. While servicing its bonded screen and internal battery requires dedicated patience and tools—as outlined in our step-by-step repair guides—keeping the hardware protected in a rigid case will ensure this large canvas delivers reliable performance for years to come.

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